Science Policy Reporter

Who we are: 

The American Institute of Physics (AIP) is a federation of 10 Member Societies which in turn have more than 130,000 members across the globe. AIP was founded in 1931 in an effort to alleviate societal and economic turmoil and to better humanity through science. Today, almost 100 years later, we further our positive impact through our mission: to advance, promote, and serve the physical sciences for the benefit of humanity. We want you to become a part of this mission! 

AIP’s science policy news service, called FYI, is a premier source of updates on federal science agencies and legislation. Published by AIP since 1989, FYI is trusted by policymakers and prominent figures in the scientific community nationwide. FYI focuses on physical science programs across the Department of Energy, Department of Commerce, Department of Defense, National Science Foundation, National Institutes of Health, and NASA. FYI also covers topics relevant across all fields of science, such as STEM education, research infrastructure management, and research integrity and security. At FYI, we seek to clarify policy activity and deliver nuanced insight into its impacts on the scientific community. 

Summary: 

We are hiring a Science Policy Reporter to write for FYI. We are seeking a strong writer with a keen news sense, knowledge of the federal budget process, and experience cultivating sources and conducting interviews. Your work will inform national decision makers and scientists on the ground, empowering them to better navigate the policy landscape. 

 
What you'll do: 

• Write news and analysis articles about legislative activity and agency initiatives. 
• Analyze science budget proposals and outcomes. 
• Distill takeaways from policy events such as congressional hearings. 
• Develop relationships with sources and conduct interviews. 
• Identify emerging policy topics to take our reporting in new directions. 

What you'll bring: 

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field. 
• Two or more years of experience in policy reporting or policy analysis. 
• Strong understanding of the federal budget process. 
• Familiarity with multiple science agencies. 
• Demonstrated ability to write content on tight deadlines. 
• Experience cultivating sources and conducting interviews. 

To Apply: 

Applications must include a resume and a writing sample. We encourage you to apply even if your experience does not fully match the position description; we will consider people from a variety of backgrounds and career experiences. 
 
Why join us: 

AIP embraces a flexible hybrid work environment to balance in-person collaborative work with remote work. At present, the team works in a hybrid schedule, with staff reporting to our offices in College Park, Maryland 1 day per week and permitted to work remotely the rest of the week.  Employees are required to reside in Maryland, Virginia, or Washington, DC. 

We offer comprehensive benefits, including generous paid time off, medical/dental/vision coverage, an annual retirement contribution of 10% of base pay, tuition assistance, commuter benefits, and more. 
 
Your colleagues at AIP are welcoming, gracious, and eager to help each other succeed. With our commitment to community service, institute-wide social opportunities, and ongoing learning and development, AIP is a rewarding place to work. 

 
About AIP: 

The American Institute of Physics is a dynamic, forward-thinking 501(c)(3) membership corporation of scientific societies. Our mission is to advance, promote, and serve the physical sciences for the benefit of humanity. AIP is a trusted and reliable source of information and analysis and is a center of excellence that advances the physical sciences enterprise through research and analysis aimed at improving the understanding of our heritage and promoting future progress. 
 
Diversity welcome! Diversity is integral to our mission and is ingrained in everything that we do at AIP. We encourage and invite people of all backgrounds to apply and join our team. All applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, creed, marital status, gender identity or expression, political affiliation, personal appearance, national origin, ancestry, protected veteran status, or physical or mental disability. 

AIP is an Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Employer  
EOE, including disability/Vets